To Kill a Mockingbird

  I have never thought that this story about a little girl’s childhood can reflect so many naked, cruel reality of human nature.   Written from an innocent perspective of girl, this story reflects the ugliness of human, injustice in society, and racism.

 

 When Tom Robinson is falsely accused of raping, Atticus, who is Scout and Jem’s father, helps to defend him. Most people in the town believe that accusation is true just because Tom is black, they despise Atticus for defending him and call him names. To me, Atticus is a new hero. He never steps back when encounters people’s harsh remarks; he doesn’t bat an eye when he is spit on his face; he is the same in the courtroom as he is on the public street; he stands straight and keeps calm in any circumstances.

Have I ever been furious when someone mocks me? Of course! Most of the people have. But Atticus is one of the few gentlemen who are just and calm anytime in anywhere. “Just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t let them get your goat.” This is a prominent quote that stood out to me.  Atticus’s attitude is a good counsel to those who are easily irritated like me.  When we are doing something righteous, people around us may tease and mock our action, just like the townspeople call Atticus name in a really disrespectful way because he defends Tom.

“You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around them.”

Scout recalls Atticus’s counsel to her when she is standing at Boo Radley’s porch. We may have heard of this saying for a lot of times, but do we ever apply that to our lives? Boo, who has never stepped out from his house for more than 20 years, is being isolated and prejudiced by the society because of the rumors about him. After Scout walks Boo home, she realizes that Boo is actually really warm hearted and friendly. 

When we see someone who is being bullied, have we ever stood up for he/she, or just follow what the others do? You’re lucky if you have never been bullied before, what those victims? They may not have wronged you or even talked to you, but your conscience is blinded by the majority. Try to follow Atticus’s counsel and apply it, you will find an unspeakable joy in your heart.

Living in Beijing’s polluted air

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/living-in-beijings-polluted-air/2013/03/11/6606e45e-7489-11e2-8f84-3e4b513b1a13_story.html

 

I had lived in Hong Kong for all my life before I came to Utah where air quality is extremely good compared to Hong Kong. I used to cough and sneeze every morning because of the air pollution. Cars are everywhere on the streets, the pavements are crowded with people, and the city is like a concrete jungle with tall buildings blocking all the ventilation. Those greenhouse gas and dusts are trapped and we are the victims who inhale all these hazardous air.

 

 

Now I can breathe without any concerns. Houses are more spread out and short, you seldom see a car passing outside your house. Clear blue sky and fresh air are my favorite things in Utah, I don’t sneeze or cough in the morning anymore!

 

I understand how it feels to be crammed in an air polluted cities, I think the government should impose more strict policy to restrict the emission of gas from factories and vehicles. On the other hand, we have the responsibilities to reduce the production of hazardous gas. For example, take public transportation instead of driving a car (applicable in cities like Hong Kong, not in Cedar Hills because there is almost none public transport), or ride a bike! If we all do our part, this world is going to be a nicer place.

 

 

 

 

Vietnam and Mozambique are urged to do more to stop illegal rhino trade

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/wildlife-officials-urge-vietnam-and-mozambique-to-stop-illegal-rhino-trade/2013/03/12/8564fcca-8b2a-11e2-9f54-f3fdd70acad2_story.html

 

Rhinos are getting scarce as people in Vietnam and Mozambique keep killing them in order to sell their horns. I am disapproved by their irrational and cold-blooded actions because they treat them as toys or products instead of animals. Whenever I hear news about the extinction of animals, I feel a stab of pain in my heart.

 

How could human be so harsh and heartless? Profits they can make from these precious lives cover their sympathy and conscience. I believe that CITES is taking effective action by warning and imposing these countries, this shows that the world cares! Sometimes I think the government in Vietnam and Mozambique turn blind eye to this matter because of corruption. I really hope that someday human and animals can live in harmony.

 

 

 

News Commentary

The Benefits of Working in the Office

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/the-benefits-of-working-in-the-office/?ref=technology

Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer wants to abolish the work-at-home policy. She thinks that it will hinder the employees’ efficiency and productivity if they stay at home and drinking coffee and taking a nap.

On one hand, it will be beneficial for workers to work in an office because through communicating with their colleagues, they may come up with ideas and innovations especially a company like Yahoo, which requires new inspiration from employees all the time. In Google, it provides free food and snacks, on-site gyms, subsidized massages, so on.  This can attract workers to work in the office and they can have free snacks while they’re interacting with colleagues.

On the other hand, we cannot avoid having procrastinators in the office as they receive such good service from the company, then the money spent will be wasted.  The problem is how to enhance employees’ discipline in the office and their use of resources.

 

It all depends on how well the employees discipline themselves. If everyone in the company works efficiently and productively with the help of recreational facilities, there won’t be any problem at all.

 

Gay Wedding Is Embraced by Disney in Tokyo

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/05/world/asia/social-media-embrace-same-sex-wedding-at-tokyo-disneyland.html?ref=world

  Disneyland is a fantasy world and those fairy-tale stories always have a happy ending; the prince and the princess live happily ever after. Have we ever heard of the prince and the prince live happily ever after?

The first gay wedding was held in the Tokyo Disneyland, which will encourage more gay couples to get married in Disneyland.  Negative influence or misconception will be conveyed to children because we want to give out a positive and correct value towards marriage to the children.  I think Disneyland should have considered the consequence of holding the first gay wedding as well as the tourist or public perspective towards the same sex marriage. Nowadays, not many people accept same sex marriage. Besides, Disneyland is always crowded with people, there must be people who feel uncomfortable with the wedding ceremony that was held in the resort.  Disneyland should consider that tourists perspective of same sex marriage but not the cost of the wedding package that the couples purchase.  

Self Portrait Poem

I am well-known.

Everyone wishes to have me especially car lovers.

Mercedes is my fabulous name!

Sometimes I am as moody as a storm,

But at the next second I am as cheerful as a sun

I am reserved and quiet whenever I have no idea about the lessons,

And my mind starts soaring in the cloud.

(You have to sing it in the tune of “99 seconds of Harry Potter”)

There once was a boy named Harry

Destined to be my “bro”

He’s now serving in Australia

And will be back really soon

Love of not waking up at 6:45 every morning

And sleep until the smell of breakfast sneaks into my room

And forget all about school and my troubles

Love of the melting Lindt chocolate in my mouth in every second of my life

And enjoy the sweetness and delight in my heart

Love of doing crafts in my own art room from day to night and night to day

Until my hands are covered with glue, my legs are numb, and my but hurts

 

Who feels energetic when I hear my parents’ voice in my tiring homework time,

Feels tired and reluctant when I hear my alarm rings and wish to ignore it,

And feels elated when I smell the nature and wish to live there.

Who needs 48 hours of sleep every day after a long tiring school week,

Needs a dark chocolate to sustain my brain when my battery is not enough for me to complete me work,

And needs a pool in my bedroom so as to jump into it whenever I want to.

 

Who gives jokes when others think that life is boring and stressful

Who gives shoulders when friends are down and need to lean on someone.

Who gives troubles to everyone I meet.

Who fears Cockroaches walking tiptoe on my bed and kiss my cheek! (yick!),

the frantic atmosphere of exam, which feels like we are in a pressure cooker,

and a battlefield with noise of guns and tanks at my house.

Who would like to be Charlie in order to get a golden ticket and to visit the chocolate factories all over the world,

To see my room being cleaned as spin and span by the magic broom sticks from the mickey apprentice sorcerer,

And to see the sun rises slowly from the utter darkness at the top of the Provo canyon.

Who once lived in a beehive where everyone was “bee-sy” seeking honey, but now lives in a spread out plain surrounded by giant mountains covered with snow.

 

None has ever pronounced it right,

It is a unique and peculiar last name that pronounces as “ing”!

10 things I know to be true

 

All is well

Life is a test

The earth is round

I have purpose on earth

Chocolate makes us happy

Laughter is the best medicine

The dawn comes after the night

Friends are God’s way of taking care of us

Pursue excellence, and success will follow

I am SUPER because I was born to be SUPER

 

                                        

10 objects I can’t live without

 

Air

Banana

Chocolate Cookies

Doughnut Dessert Dime

Ears Eyes Elevator Elbows Eggs

Face Fingers Feet Feelings Fudge Fun

 

10 things I should have learned now

 

Drive      

Sleep well

Think Twice

Time management

Don’t think in a circle

 Speak and act appropriately

  Eat healthy, no junks

Make ice cream

             Be grateful

                Relax

 

 

 

 

10 of my greatest fears

 

Rats * Cockroaches* Haunted house* Test and exam

Home alone* Being bullied* Breaking my bone

Failure* Nightmares* Arguments

 

10 things, places, people, that make me the most happy

 

                                              My family

                                 My friends*Heavenly father

               chocolate from all countries, Cheesecake Factory

     Go to Germany* Serve a mission in Russia* Read all the scriptures

    Spend every minute doing crafts* Watch Celine Dion concert in Las Vegas

 

10 places I will visit before I die

 

The sacred grove

German chocolate factories

Japan Tokyo and Okinawa

North Pole

Switzerland

Yellowstone

Salt Lake Temple

Hong Kong Temple

My Home

My bedroom

 

Huck Finn Test

-character matching

List of characters:

Huck, Jim, Tom, Pap, widow Douglas,the king and the duke, Miss watson, Mrs. Loftus, Silas and Sally Phelps, Boggs, the Wilks sisters, Grangerfords, Shepherdson, Dr. Robinson, Judge Thatcher

-multiple choice

-quotes

-AP multiple choice

-AP style Essay

-theme: religion, education "sivilized"

-satire: racism, slavery

-application to modern days

How to make a Good Luck Knot

I received a parcel from my mom this week. There were Chinese accessories and some Chinese New Year Fai Chun ( paper decorations with good wishes that you can hang in your home). Look at this cute Forever Friends Fai Chun! It means "Have progress in studies!"

 

She also sent me Chinese decorative knots which fascinated and motivated me to discover how to make them.

In Chinese, "knot" means reunion, friendship, warmth, love, etc. Chinese knots are often used to express good wishes such as happiness, prosperity, and love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I searched in the internet and found that there were tons of different kinds of knots such as double coin knots, flat knots, cross knots, and button knots! I was interested by these knots and started making one. I made a good luck knot which wasn’t hard to make! This Good Luck Knot is believed to bring extra good fortune to the lucky wearer, as well as to the giver of the knot.

“Work, but DON’T forget to LIVE”  

This is the Yogi tea tag saying I got this morning.

Material: Nylon cords

Step 1: Cut nylon cord. Keep cord in the place as shown.

 

Step 2: Fold up the bottom tail so that it overlaps the right loop.

Step 3: Then fold the right loop over the top loop. 

Step 4: Fold the top loop over the left loop.

Step 5:  fold the left loop over the bottom tail, but string it through the loop made in step 2

Step 6: carefully pull all the loops and ends out to tighten knot.

 

Step7:  Repeat the fold-over steps from earlier all over again, with the bottom tail and right-top-left loops. Tighten the knot by pulling all the loops again.

                                   Here you go! A Chinese good luck knot!

                         Hope you enjoy your time making this cute little knot!

If you want to express love to your friends and family, you can make Chinese knots and give them to your loved ones! You can also hang it in your room or backpack as decoration like mine!